Well, we have decided with all of the family involvement with "Faith" that it is time to do a bio-family search for Yana. Right away, I felt that this information about "Faith's" family would upset Yana because we have not located her family (in short, we found her brother then he disappeared before we could make direct contact).
To my surprise Yana did not look upset but we decided not to wait for that to happen and offered up to do a bio-search. She is very happy. So I have sent my friend the information and he will start the search next week. If you would please pray with us over this, it would be greatly appreciated. Who knows what we will find and how it will affect our dear Yana.
We also need to be in prayer about our future travels to Ukraine. At this point, I don't see me going without Nadia. Just not an option as far as I'm concerned. I know we are talking about traveling in 6 months or so but at this point I don't think either of us are ready to be apart for even a night. Also, Nadia would not have her therapy suit on for a whole month if I left her home. I know I am not a therapist but certainly if she had her therapy suit on and was with me we could do SOMETHINGS to help insure that she didn't fall back on her path to progress.
But then comes the thought of taking Yana. I hadn't planned on it, the kids opted not to go last time. I was surprised Yana didn't want to go but she said, "It will just cost more money." The truth, I believe, is she rather hang out at Grandma and Grandpa's instead. But this time I am taking Nadia and we are working on the bio-search for Yana. Also, if we adopt "Faith", we will be going back to the orphanage from where Yana was adopted herself. Yana is also a great help with Nadia, so it might actually be beneficial to take her along as well. Ugh, I don't know, between the 2 we are probably talking about $3,000 more in plane tickets so....something to pray about I guess.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Give Me a B-O-Y !
So since my last post my thoughts and feelings have changed about adopting a boy while in Ukraine adopting "Faith".
When we were in Ukraine adopting Nadia I had the wonderful oppurtunity to meet up with my friend, Christie, and her husband for dinner. We discussed her familiy's hopes to adopt again and she shared with me some about adopting through disruption. Right away, my heart was opened to the idea. I felt that if we were to ever adopt again (aside from if we had the oppurtunity to adopt "Faith" or "Flower") that we would adopt through disruption.
Dan and I discussed it some since then and even included the kids in the discussion. It wasn't a "let's sit down and discuss this as a family" kind of discussion, but just an open discussion, probably standing in the kitchen or riding in the van, about what it would mean to adopt through disruption. We were in agreement, though nothing set in stone, that next time we would adopt this way.
Well, while in the car the other day Anthony asked me something to the sort, "If we can't adopt ["Faith"] are you going to adopt through disruption?" or "After you adopt ["Faith"] will you next time adopt through disruption?". In any case the light bulb went on and I thought, "Oh my gosh, what am I thinking? We shouldn't try to figure out how to adopt a 2nd child while in Ukraine (a boy) but should adopt him through disruption."
So I want to pray about this. I talked to Dan about it this morning and he, again, is in agreement. There is much we need to learn (like what we would need to do to be prepared for placement and what the process includes) but I will definitely be praying for God's guidance in this area.
In the meantime, I will tell Anthony he needs to clean out his room and get ready, because you never know. LOL A mothers got to do what a mothers got to do to get their teen boys room clean once in while, right? :)
When we were in Ukraine adopting Nadia I had the wonderful oppurtunity to meet up with my friend, Christie, and her husband for dinner. We discussed her familiy's hopes to adopt again and she shared with me some about adopting through disruption. Right away, my heart was opened to the idea. I felt that if we were to ever adopt again (aside from if we had the oppurtunity to adopt "Faith" or "Flower") that we would adopt through disruption.
Dan and I discussed it some since then and even included the kids in the discussion. It wasn't a "let's sit down and discuss this as a family" kind of discussion, but just an open discussion, probably standing in the kitchen or riding in the van, about what it would mean to adopt through disruption. We were in agreement, though nothing set in stone, that next time we would adopt this way.
Well, while in the car the other day Anthony asked me something to the sort, "If we can't adopt ["Faith"] are you going to adopt through disruption?" or "After you adopt ["Faith"] will you next time adopt through disruption?". In any case the light bulb went on and I thought, "Oh my gosh, what am I thinking? We shouldn't try to figure out how to adopt a 2nd child while in Ukraine (a boy) but should adopt him through disruption."
So I want to pray about this. I talked to Dan about it this morning and he, again, is in agreement. There is much we need to learn (like what we would need to do to be prepared for placement and what the process includes) but I will definitely be praying for God's guidance in this area.
In the meantime, I will tell Anthony he needs to clean out his room and get ready, because you never know. LOL A mothers got to do what a mothers got to do to get their teen boys room clean once in while, right? :)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wonderful News from Ukraine
Not at all what we expected. In all fairness, it is hard not to be slightly skeptical based on what seems to be most commonly seen in Ukraine because of difficulty in supporting ones family and the money that comes from fostering a child. I am INCREDIBLY grateful that this situation with "Faith's" family is completely different.
The news we received, in short, is that the few family members who have recently become involved all are supportive of our adoption thus far. They all genuinely care for "Faith" and want what is best for her. At this time it does not look like it would be in anyones best interest to take "Faith" but they lovingly support her having a family.
"Faith" had even asked her uncle what he thought about us adopting her and he told her to follow her heart. He has said that he would talk to "Faith" about it, and encourage her to make the right decision. He will do whatever documents necessary to support the adoption.
Also, we learned that "Faith's" brother-in-law works in the States often. We are hoping that we can meet sometime.
So pictures of our family have been sent to her sister and uncle. I feel confident that communication between us directly will eventually happen and of course the family can keep in touch. We also hope to find her other sisters, some of which have been adopted into American families.
I am so excited for "Faith". It is not everyday that these children are able to have loving family support them through this process. I truly believe this will go a LONG way when it comes to healing and adjustment.
Let's keep praying!!
The news we received, in short, is that the few family members who have recently become involved all are supportive of our adoption thus far. They all genuinely care for "Faith" and want what is best for her. At this time it does not look like it would be in anyones best interest to take "Faith" but they lovingly support her having a family.
"Faith" had even asked her uncle what he thought about us adopting her and he told her to follow her heart. He has said that he would talk to "Faith" about it, and encourage her to make the right decision. He will do whatever documents necessary to support the adoption.
Also, we learned that "Faith's" brother-in-law works in the States often. We are hoping that we can meet sometime.
So pictures of our family have been sent to her sister and uncle. I feel confident that communication between us directly will eventually happen and of course the family can keep in touch. We also hope to find her other sisters, some of which have been adopted into American families.
I am so excited for "Faith". It is not everyday that these children are able to have loving family support them through this process. I truly believe this will go a LONG way when it comes to healing and adjustment.
Let's keep praying!!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Blue Skies Ahead!!
Well, if you haven't already heard, RADA (parliament) did not vote on the moratorium on Tuesday. It had been posted on the RADA website about voting on this law on June 2nd, decided by the RADA committee, but it was never on the "official schedule". Then RADA refused the committees suggestion to include it on the June 2nd schedule. Anyway, I completely believe this was divine intervention.
So, what now? Well, we are moving full steam ahead. I began preparing and requesting documents as soon as I heard about the drop of this draft law. Today I sent out our first $520 for our homestudy and marriage certificates. It's actually pretty fun to send off the first of the checks, it makes things seem so official. SO WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING AGAIN!!! God is AWESOME!!
My parents are away on a cruise in Europe and do not yet know of our plans Heehee...they won't be shocked, I don't think I can shock them anymore. They won't jump up and down, they never do in the beginning, as they always think I am nuts (pregnancy, 1st adoption, 2nd adoption...whatever...) but they will come around LOL Anyway, I am hitting them up for $ cash $ upon their return :) I am to get a small inheritance from my grandmother who passed away in April and plan to use that money for our USCIS fees and fingerprinting, as well as the complete dossier preparation.
Funny that this is our first time starting an adoption with some kind of money AND we have someone offering to help us cover the costs we cannot on our own. It's cool because I don't want to be like, "Gee thanks for offering, we have ZERO $$" I intend to do all that we can to cover whatever we can on our own.
In other adoption news, 3 posts back or so I mentioned a family member showing up for "Faith". Well, since our amazing blessing, we learned that a bigger "threat" to our adoption of "Faith" has come into the picture. Before I say who it is & what the situation is, know that we are thrilled about this person and would be happy for "Faith" even if we cannot adopt her because this person decides that she would like to....it is one of her older sisters.
Her sister is married and living in Russia. She has come to see "Faith" and showered her with love, new clothes and a cell phone. :) Of course. "Faith" is VERY happy. At first, and I guess still, we did not know what the sister's intentions were/are. "Faith" was asked what she would like and she said she would like to be with her sister but if she could not, she would like it if we would adopt her. Sounds very sensible to me.
We have had a good friend contact the sister and make her aware of the situation and try to learn of her intentions. Although she said it is fine for us to adopt her, our friend let her know of "Faith's" wishes. They (my friend and the sister) are going to keep in touch. My friend emailed a picture of our family and told her a little about us. Now he is waiting to hear back with any questions or information from her. We are just praying for God's will in this situation and will be happy with either outcome (us or the sister adopting "Faith").
While we were waiting to hear the sister's intentions, Dan and I discussed what we would do if we could not adopt "Faith". We are in agreement that we would still go to Ukraine and adopt; there are a TON of kids in need of a family and we have room in our hearts and home. We have even discussed adopting a boy/girl sibling group (ranging in age anywhere from 11-15 yr old). We'll see. Even if we are going to adopt "Faith" I still would like to consider also getting a boy, but don't know how difficult that will be these days with the SDA since the children would be unrelated. I was also hoping that if we were to adopt siblings they would be in the same orphanage, as that would make it relatively inexpensive to adopt the additional child.
I figure if we adopt 2 we can just put flights on a credit card (and of course still do all we can to get whatever funds together for the rest of the adoption) and can pay off the credit card with the SC Reimb. fee when we return ($1500 per special needs/ hard to place children....older children fall into this category.) Again, we'll see. Wewill just keep praying and let God lead the way.
Woo hooo!!! We are actually doing this again!
So, what now? Well, we are moving full steam ahead. I began preparing and requesting documents as soon as I heard about the drop of this draft law. Today I sent out our first $520 for our homestudy and marriage certificates. It's actually pretty fun to send off the first of the checks, it makes things seem so official. SO WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING AGAIN!!! God is AWESOME!!
My parents are away on a cruise in Europe and do not yet know of our plans Heehee...they won't be shocked, I don't think I can shock them anymore. They won't jump up and down, they never do in the beginning, as they always think I am nuts (pregnancy, 1st adoption, 2nd adoption...whatever...) but they will come around LOL Anyway, I am hitting them up for $ cash $ upon their return :) I am to get a small inheritance from my grandmother who passed away in April and plan to use that money for our USCIS fees and fingerprinting, as well as the complete dossier preparation.
Funny that this is our first time starting an adoption with some kind of money AND we have someone offering to help us cover the costs we cannot on our own. It's cool because I don't want to be like, "Gee thanks for offering, we have ZERO $$" I intend to do all that we can to cover whatever we can on our own.
In other adoption news, 3 posts back or so I mentioned a family member showing up for "Faith". Well, since our amazing blessing, we learned that a bigger "threat" to our adoption of "Faith" has come into the picture. Before I say who it is & what the situation is, know that we are thrilled about this person and would be happy for "Faith" even if we cannot adopt her because this person decides that she would like to....it is one of her older sisters.
Her sister is married and living in Russia. She has come to see "Faith" and showered her with love, new clothes and a cell phone. :) Of course. "Faith" is VERY happy. At first, and I guess still, we did not know what the sister's intentions were/are. "Faith" was asked what she would like and she said she would like to be with her sister but if she could not, she would like it if we would adopt her. Sounds very sensible to me.
We have had a good friend contact the sister and make her aware of the situation and try to learn of her intentions. Although she said it is fine for us to adopt her, our friend let her know of "Faith's" wishes. They (my friend and the sister) are going to keep in touch. My friend emailed a picture of our family and told her a little about us. Now he is waiting to hear back with any questions or information from her. We are just praying for God's will in this situation and will be happy with either outcome (us or the sister adopting "Faith").
While we were waiting to hear the sister's intentions, Dan and I discussed what we would do if we could not adopt "Faith". We are in agreement that we would still go to Ukraine and adopt; there are a TON of kids in need of a family and we have room in our hearts and home. We have even discussed adopting a boy/girl sibling group (ranging in age anywhere from 11-15 yr old). We'll see. Even if we are going to adopt "Faith" I still would like to consider also getting a boy, but don't know how difficult that will be these days with the SDA since the children would be unrelated. I was also hoping that if we were to adopt siblings they would be in the same orphanage, as that would make it relatively inexpensive to adopt the additional child.
I figure if we adopt 2 we can just put flights on a credit card (and of course still do all we can to get whatever funds together for the rest of the adoption) and can pay off the credit card with the SC Reimb. fee when we return ($1500 per special needs/ hard to place children....older children fall into this category.) Again, we'll see. Wewill just keep praying and let God lead the way.
Woo hooo!!! We are actually doing this again!
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